Munster 2015/2016

[simonokeeffe]

with Ireland squad announced that gives Munster a 1st choice team of

Jones, GVDH, Saili, Hurley, Conway, Keatley, Williams, Killer, Sherry, Archer, Chisholm, Foley, Stander, Coghlan, Copeland
Casey, Ryan, Cronin, Holland, JOD/DOC2, Sheridan, TB, ROM

If theyve all their props my guess is the Cronin to TH move may as well start now

[Oldschool]

with Ireland squad announced that gives Munster a 1st choice team of

Jones, GVDH, Saili, Hurley, Conway, Keatley, Williams, Killer, Sherry, Archer, Chisholm, Foley, Stander, Coghlan, Copeland
Casey, Ryan, Cronin, Holland, JOD/DOC2, Sheridan, TB, ROM

If theyve all their props my guess is the Cronin to TH move may as well start now

Unless Joe has other, short term, ideas.

[munster#1]

With furlong on his way after the rwc, I don't see any point in moving cronin.

[hugonaut]

With furlong on his way after the rwc, I don't see any point in moving cronin.

Yawn.

[munster#1]

With furlong on his way after the rwc, I don't see any point in moving cronin.

Yawn.

Well it is unlikely that Leinster will keep both Moore and furlong long term. especially with Ross still on the scene along with bent.
So he might aswell come to munster this season rather than spend the next few seasons sharing big games.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

With furlong on his way after the rwc, I don't see any point in moving cronin.

Yawn.

Nobody bit with the comment on the last page. If at first you don't succeed....

[johng]

Mike Ross might fancy a year back in Cork after this season. Get a provincial contract. Chill out. Y'know. Tell manhood stories.

[blockhead]

DOC leaving Munster.
Top player and all round great bloke.
Hope he is getting a nice deal at whatever club he is going to.

Ireland veteran Donncha O’Callaghan to leave Munster
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
By Barry Coughlan

Munster rugby supporters face another shock in the next day or two when news of Donncha O’Callaghan’s departure will be made official.

The Munster and Ireland veteran has been linked with an overseas club and is on the verge of signing a two-year deal after Munster apparently agreed to release him from the remainder of his current contract, which runs up to June 2016.

With O’Callaghan out of the country, there was no way to confirm the news of his imminent departure last night but sources close to the squad intimated the legendary second rower will definitely part ways with a province he has served brilliantly for 17 years.

With 94 international caps and appearances with the British and Irish Lions, O’Callaghan played a staggering 263 times for Munster, won Heineken Cup and Celtic League and Cup medals, and has been amongst the most popular of players with the fans during that time.

The ex-Highfield and Cork Constitution player made his Munster debut in August of 1998 against Edinburgh Reivers and his first Heineken Cup start against Perpignan in October of that year.

The 36-year-old is regarded as one of the fittest members of the Munster squad and had openly expressed his interest in continuing his career for longer than the current contract he had with the province. With Paul O’Connell headed for Toulon at the end of the Rugby World Cup, Munster will now have lost two of their most experienced and enduring forwards in the space of a few weeks.

[All Blacks nil]

He has been a great servant to Munster and Irish rugby at all levels, be it as a first choice international or as a lynchpin for Munster as his international career ended.
Game time would have been at a premium even allowing for POC's departure.
Ryan, Foley, Chisholm are all younger international class second rows with both Chisholm and most likely Foley being available throughout the international windows. Billy Holland did a great job last season and proved his worth when given game time. DOC2 can also do a job at second row and John Madigan given an injury free run could develop into a real player. Copeland can also play second row although for me that would be close to a last resort.
It is interesting to see where Donners will end up but you can be sure he will have a positive impact wherever he turns up. He is a consummate professional and at 36 1/2 (big child) he could have at least 2 more seasons left in him. Lets hope he gets to lock horns with POC at some stage.
263 matches for Munster, 94 caps for Ireland and 4 Tests for Lions - quite a career so far!

[offshorerules]

Any idea where's he going? It would be great for him if like POC he got a contract with a big team.

[simonokeeffe]

The other reports specified overseas so am going to guess ProD2. Reports I read are he was offered 2 year deal abroad but didnt think his Munster deal would be extended past this summer

Donnacha Ryan now their longest serving player

[munster#1]

Great news for the player. Imo he could still be going up ti his 40th birthday.

Hopefully he has been signed by pau.

[goreyguy]

DOC has been done for awhile at this stage. Great servant on his day. Weird to think both he and POC will have played for someone other than Munster.

[olaf the fat]

Munster wont be the same without him. Sound guy

[simonokeeffe]

The word on the street is he will be pitching his red speedos up at newly promoted Worcester who lost their first 2 choice locks (Williams and Percival) in the summer

[Peg Leg]

Sad he couldn't finish on his own terms but few can. Legend, machine of a lad.

[simonokeeffe]

Sad he couldn't finish on his own terms but few can. Legend, machine of a lad.

is he last of generation ligind or do we count Ryan and TOL in that?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Sad he couldn't finish on his own terms but few can. Legend, machine of a lad.

is he last of generation ligind or do we count Ryan and TOL in that?

Hadn't thought of that, that's a bit sad actually. Great servant alright, used to love aggression and work rate when he first broke into the Ireland team. A bit like Darce and Bod, he managed to do a lot of the dirty work to help POC look good in the loose. Had hoped he'd end up in a nice part of France but hopefully the move works out well for him.

[johng]

Tol the only survivor of 06..... And he broke his service.

[simonokeeffe]

Tol the only survivor of 06..... And he broke his service.

we count Foley as hes coaching?